1. LabVIEW Instrument Control Course
Overview
The LabVIEW Instrument Control course prepares you to programmatically control instruments using LabVIEW.
The benefits of instrument control include automated processes, time savings, and ease of use. During the
course, you will examine real-world industry examples, and learn to use virtual instrumentation software
architectures (VISA) – a single interface to configure and control GPIB, Ethernet, serial, and VXI instruments. You
will also use, modify and build a LabVIEW Plug & Play instrument driver: a set of commands contained in a
modular API for an individual instrument. After you complete the course, you can quickly develop integrated, high-
performance instrument control applications that produce accurate measurements.
Duration
• Classroom: Two (2) Days
Audience
• Application developers using LabVIEW to control computer-based instruments via GPIB, serial, or other
communication protocol
Prerequisites
• Experience with Microsoft Windows
• Core 1 course or equivalent experience
NI Products Used During the Course
• LabVIEW Professional Development System Version 8.5 or later
• IEEE 488.2 (GPIB) board
• NI Instrument Simulator
After attending this course, you will be able to:
• Use LabVIEW to communicate with instruments
• Program with VISA, VISA properties, and VISA events
• Parse data
• Use instrument drivers
Modify an existing instrument driver
• Design, develop, test, and deploy a new instrument driver
• Create an effective and efficient instrument control application
Suggested Next Courses
• LabVIEW Core 2
• LabVIEW Core 3
• IVI Instrument Driver Development
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2. LabVIEW Instrument Control Course Outline
Day 1
Industry Applications
This lesson introduces the benefits of instrument control and shows industry applications using instrument control.
Topics include:
• Introduction to instrument control
• Benefits of instrument control
• Instrument control example
• Industry applications using instrument control
Communicating with Instruments
This lesson describes how you can use LabVIEW to communicate with instruments. You will learn how to use NI-
VISA, NI Spy, SCPI commands, and the Instrument I/O Assistant to perform instrument I/O. Topics include:
• Comparing instrument buses
• Connecting to instruments
• Monitoring bus activity with NI Spy
• Communicating with your instrument using the VISA API
• Parsing data
• Using the Instrument I/O Assistant
Using Instrument Drivers
This lesson introduces LabVIEW Plug & Play instrument drivers. You will learn when to use instrument drivers,
how to install instrument drivers, and how to program with instrument drivers. Topics include:
• Introduction to instrument drivers
• When to use instrument drivers
• Installing an instrument driver
• Using an instrument driver
Modifying an Existing Instrument Driver
If an instrument driver is lacking a feature you need, you will need to modify it. This lesson describes how to
modify an existing instrument driver. Topics include:
• When to modify an instrument driver
• Exploring the structure of an instrument driver
• Steps to modify an instrument driver
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3. LabVIEW Instrument Control Course Outline
Day 2
Creating a New Instrument Driver
Sometimes you have an instrument that does not have an instrument driver. This lesson describes how to create
a new instrument driver. Topics include:
• Designing an instrument driver structure
• Developing an instrument driver
• Testing an instrument driver
• Deploying an instrument driver
Developing an Application
This lesson describes how to develop effective and efficient instrument control applications. You will integrate the
lessons learned in this class to develop a real world, automated application. Topics include:
• Exploring and applying common, effective LabVIEW architectures for instrument applications
• Applying best practices in LabVIEW as it relates to instrument control applications.
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